Pianist John Bitoy performs an excerpt of Johann Sebastian Bach’s "The Well-Tempered Clavier," Book 1, Fugue No. 12 in F Minor, BWV 857, published in 1722.

František Kupka looked to the fugue, a musical structure characterized by interweaving and repeating a primary theme and one or more contrasting themes, as inspiration for "Disks of Newton (Study for “Fugue in Two Colors”)." Through the work’s subtitle, Kupka subtly points to eighteenth-century Baroque composer Johann Sebastian Bach, who developed the malleable fugue form through his two "Well-Tempered Clavier" books of compositions.

About the Performer
John Bitoy is an Afro-Dominican pianist and composer originally from Chicago, where he enjoys a multi-faceted career as a soloist and collaborative pianist. His recent solo engagements include performances of Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2 with the South Loop Symphony and Symphony of Oak Park. He has performed in esteemed halls such as the Eastman Theatre, Chicago Symphony Center, the Jay Pritzker Pavilion at Millenium Park, Perelman Theater, Edward Pickman Hall, Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, The American Repertory Theater, Mary B. Galvin Recital Hall, and the Copernicus Center. 

John is a passionate advocate for new music in performance spaces. Past projects include the recording and world premiere of several pieces from Steve Wallace’s Solo piano and chamber compositions in 2020, followed by his opera in 2021. As an avid chamber musician, John has been invited to play at the Gateways Music Festival, The Boston Celebrity Series, the Philadelphia Chamber Music Society, The Bienen School of Music, the Philarmonic Society of Orange County, the American Repertory Theater, Caramoor, The Bold Tendencies festival, and has performed works by Marcus Norris, Tyshawn Sorey, Davóne Tines, Ahmed Alabaca, and Brian Raphael Nabors. 

Mr. Bitoy enjoys playing standard repertoire, yet he is simultaneously devoted to shedding light on the new music of composers of the African Diaspora. In addition to taking pleasure in his classical engagements, John is well versed in other genres. He was invited to perform with Sigur Ros during their 2019 United States Tour of "Riceboy Sleeps," and has been a featured artist at the Jazz Showcase and Andy’s Jazz Club.

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